Folding trumpet or megaphone.



PATENTED APR. 4, 1905:

0. M. ZELLERSI FOLDING TRUMPET 0R MBGAPHONB.

APPLIOATION FILED SEPT. 9. 1904.

[NVE/VTOR. Byaflzuaa ATTORNEY.

' WIiNESSES.

Patented April 4:, 1905.

PATENT OFFICE.

CLAUDE M. ZELLERS, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO.

FOLDING TRUMPET OR MEGAPHONE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 786,395, dated Apri14, 1905.

Application filed September 9, 1904. Serial N0.223,828.

1'0 (/11 when], it 'IH/(I/Z/ concern:

Be it known that I, CLAUDE M. ZELLEns, a citizen of the United States, residing at Cleveland, in the county of Cuyahoga and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful. Improvements in Foldable Trumpets or Megaphones; and I do declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, which will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to foldable trumpets or megaphones; and the invention consists in a trumpet or megaphone adapted to be folded and unfolded and constructed and arranged substantially as hereinafter described, and more particularly pointed out in the claims.

Owing to the length and peculiar shape of the ordinary trumpet or megaphone made in one solid part, great inconvenience is experienced in packing, shipping, and handling, and when carried by hand the article is especially cumbersome arid awkward to hold. To overcome these disadvantages, I have designed and constructed a simple foldable device made of one piece of flexible material which can be rolled into small compass when not in use and unfolded and shaped to form a trumpet or megaphone of the proper proportions when desired for use.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of my improved megaphone shaped and locked into form as in use. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the megaphone partly rolled to shape to more clearly indicate the locking relations of the fasteningpieces. Fig. 3 is a plain elevation of the blank or form flattened out and with the fastening devices thereon.

In its simplest aspect the invention consists of a single piece of fairly stiff and thick cardboard A or like material having good resonant qualities and adapted to be rolled without breaking or creasing and shaped to form a speaking trumpet or megaphone when rolled and interlocked for use. To this end a blank or form A is cut with parallel sides 2 and with its front edge 3 curved outwardly the full width of the blank and. its

rear edge incurved in part at 4 and with straight inclined edges 5 at either side of curved edge 4. leading to sides 2. This blank so shaped will give perfect circular openings at opposite ends of proper size for monthpiece and sound-outlet, respectively, when the blank is properly rolled into trumpet shape, and the sides 2 provide overlapping pieces which reinforce each other at the center and make a stiff and durable tube.

To hold the tube in proper shape and form, I provide simple interlocking parts or devices, which comprise in the present instance a loop 6, secured upon the inner face of blank A at the mouth end, into which loop a tongue 7, riveted upon the outer face of the blank, is adapted to slip and hold the mouth end closed and lock it against expansion or contraction. The opposite end of blank A is also provided with a loop 8, mounted upon the outer face of the blank at the upper righthand corner, and which loop is engaged by a hookshaped tongue 9, mounted upon the opposite face and at the opposite side of the blank A. Corner 10 of the blank is folded and curls within the tube and is overlapped by flap or corner 11, and a suitable separable locking-button 12 and an eye or socket 13 are provided. for said respective corners to lock the flap end I] and round off the tube centrally between its ends. A glove-fastener or any other well-known fastening device may beused for this purpose.

To assemble and form the tube, engagement is first made between loop 6 and tongue 7, and then the opposite end of the bank is curled around to fasten hook 9 and loop 8 together. The tendency of the blank when rolled is to uncurl or spring outward, and this keeps hook 9 in locking engagement with loop 8. Lap 11 is the last to be fastened and the first to be opened.

Form A when flat is convenient for packing and shipping and economizes in space as compared with a round package or article. For convenience in carrying by hand the form is readily rolled into a small roll of the same diameter end to end and reduced to such dimensions and size as to be readily carried in an outer coat-pocket.

What I claim is 1. In megaphones or trumpets, a blank of flexible material having parallel side edges and an ontwardly-curved edge at one end and an inwardly-curved edge at the opposite end of less length of curvature than said outwardly-curved edge and providing angularshaped portions at each side adapted to overlap and brace the tube centrally when folded, and fastening means at each side at the outer and lower ends of the blank and at the outer overlapping portion to hold the blank in trumpet form when folded.

2. A foldable trumpet or megaphone consisting wholly of a sheet or blank of flexible material, like heavy paper or cardboard, and formed with ends 3 and 4 curved on di'tl' erent arcs and edges 2 and 5, respectively, at each CLAUDE M. ZICLLERS.

\Vitnesses:

R. B. Mosim, A. N. Mosim. 

